Newsletter-Early-Week

Health Department News – Sept. 4, 2025

September is a busy time for families, with children back in school and fall activities in full swing. It’s also an important month for child safety, as communities across the nation recognize Child Passenger Safety Week, observed this year from September 21-27. The campaign is dedicated to reminding parents and caregivers about the critical role car seats and booster seats play in protecting children on the road. Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of injury and death for children in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of all car seats are used incorrectly. Something as simple as a loose harness strap or using the wrong type of seat for a child’s age, height, or weight can make a major difference in the event of a crash. The Monroe County Health Department encourages families to take a few minutes this month to double-check their child’s seat. A free car seat inspection event is being held from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday Sept. 11 at the old Rite Aid parking lot in Woodsfield with our certified Child Passenger Safety Technician being available to help ensure seats are the right fit and properly installed. The Monroe County Health Department also has the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes Car Seat Program that provides child safety seats and booster seats to eligible low-income families in Ohio. Please feel free to reach out if you or someone you may know is in need of a car seat or booster seat.

Read MoreHealth Department News – Sept. 4, 2025

Switzer News – Aug. 28, 2025

The 175th Monroe County Fair is over. Congratulations to all those who participated in the Fair with their projects. Also, congratulations to those who did the extra work and were chosen to go to the Ohio State Fair. All of you have worked hard all year to get your projects ready for the fair. Keep up the good work.

Read MoreSwitzer News – Aug. 28, 2025

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Consecration of St. Sylvester Catholic Church

Woodsfield, Ohio, the county seat of Monroe County, was founded by Archibald Woods in 1814. The quiet and secluded rural community nestled in the rolling hills of Southeastern Ohio has been the home to Monroe County Catholics since the construction of the first church in the early 1800s. The history of the Catholic Church in Woodsfield began with several sturdy farm families, who settled along Crane’s Nest Creek (Little Muskingum), known as Dougherty’s Settlement. There, the faithful built the log church of Saints Peter and Paul in 1839. The location of the log church is referred to as “Chapel Bottom,” the land to the east of the Little Muskingum River, directly across the creek from the Dougherty Cemetery. This early church, through the dedication of its parishioners, served as a center of worship until the close of the Civil War in 1866. At that time, a new parish and congregation dedicated to Saint Sylvester was formed.

Read MoreCelebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Consecration of St. Sylvester Catholic Church